The mind of the Anglican clergy : assessing attitudes and beliefs in the Church of England

Abstract

The study illustrates the broad diversity of opinion held by Anglican clergy on key issues dividing or uniting the Church of England today, including attitudes toward homosexuality, divorce and foundational beliefs of Christianity. The authors examine the major factors underpinning the diversity of opinion and does so by drawing on three distinctive empirical traditions shaped by the sociology of religion, by the psychology of religion, and by empirical theology. This book draws on a unique survey conducted among 1,849 Anglican clergy serving in the Church of England. The Church of England is a broad church that draws together Catholic and Reformed traditions, and that combines liberal and conservative perspectives. The sociological perspective of this study is concerned with the influence of broad demographic factors including age, sex, and location. The psychological perspective is shaped by the insights of personality theory within the individual differences approach to human functioning. The perspective from empirical theology is concerned with the importance of religious doctrines, ecclesiological traditions and theological perspectives on shaping clergy attitudes and behaviors. Throughout the book, the authors test the relative power of these three conceptual frameworks for explaining diversity of perspectives among Church of England clergy. The findings are essential reading for all who want to understand the Church of England today, and especially for those who need to navigate a divided church through a major time of transition. Foreword by Jeff Astley

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